Dangerous Creatures (Book 3, Pure Series) (29 page)

              "What I mean is—I don't see how anyone could believe you were responsible for them. You look so young and innocent. You may be the face of the ghost girl, but you certainly don't have the face of a criminal."

              Sachiko gave me a wry smile. "No one's really seen me, remember? Except for your friend Anton. Besides, you should know by now that a sweet young face can hide a dark heart, especially amongst those of my kind. There are plenty of pretty little things that have committed atrocities in Zamochit Village. The only difference this time is that the atrocities were committed against vampires, rather than by them."

              "I do know only too well that youth and beauty are not a sign of goodness," I said. "But it's different with you. There's another quality in your face that has nothing to do with age or prettiness."

              "Innocence?" Sachiko suggested. "You used that word before."

              "That's it," I said. "Innocence."

              Sachiko shook her head. "You're wrong. I'm far from perfect—trust me. I could tell you about some of the things I've done, but if I did, you might not agree to come with me any longer. You might run screaming back to your house."

              "I'm sure that's true," I said. "But there's still something about you that's different."

              "You can believe anything you like." Sachiko started to walk. "Come on. We should try this way."

              I followed her across the empty gray landscape. "So why do you do it?"

              "Why do I do what?"

              "Why do you keep track of the disappearances?" I asked. "Why do you keep track of—"

              "Everything?"

              "Yes," I said.

              Sachiko shrugged. "I'm a spy."

              "What do you do it for?" I asked.

              Sachiko looked around at me. "Do I sell my information to the highest bidder? Is that it?"

              "You can put it that way, if you like," I said.

              "Well, I do want to put it like that," Sachiko said. "There's no point in dancing around the truth. You should say exactly what you want to say when you want to say it. And no, I don't sell information to anybody, though there are certainly people who do that. Your cousin Odette was one of the best information traffickers out there—until she disappeared. I tell you this not to offend you, but because it's the truth."

              "I already know about Odette's spying," I said. "I've heard about it from others."

              "Well, you don't know about mine," Sachiko said. "I spy to keep myself safe. You can't depend on that group up at the castle—they never tell anybody anything. They claim they keep secrets because they're working for the good of all, but they're really only out for themselves."

              Sachiko stopped again and looked out over the Wasteland.

              "What are you looking for?" I asked.

              "A way in."

              "It's all right," I said. "I can enter Zamochit. The barrier won't stop me."

              "I know," Sachiko said. "But we can't go in just anywhere. I have to figure out the right way to do this."

              "But we can just go in," I said. "I've done it before."

              "You don't understand," Sachiko said. "The whole village is on alert for you and has been for quite some time now. If we go in just anywhere, and you're spotted—well, let's just say that we'll both be in a lot of trouble. And you'll be spotted right away. You'll be the only human for miles. They'll scent you."

              "They're on alert for me?" I said.

              "Of course. The queen in particular was hysterical about your visit to the castle last year. She couldn't believe that they trusted you and let you in. She said you could have murdered them all."

              "The queen?" I said. "But she actually met me. She must know that I'm not the ghost girl."

              "That's where you're wrong."

              "But the queen knows what I look like," I protested. "She can't possibly believe I'm the ghost girl. If the ghost girl looks like you, she can't be me."

              Sachiko smiled. "Like I said—no one's seen the ghost girl. From what I've heard, people have only glimpsed a female form and sometimes a dark eye—occasionally they catch sight of my hair. The queen and all the others know what you look like. And they also know that you don't look like the girl who's been spotted. But they have an explanation for that—they believe that you can change your form."

              "I can do what?" I said.

              "The rumor is that the Sìdh gave you the power to alter your appearance at will. It's well known that the Sìdh hate the vampires. And with the Werdulac on the rise, the story goes that the Sìdh have expanded your role beyond that of kost killer. They have decided to transform you into a shape-shifting vampire killer—one who could be anywhere at any moment."

              "That's completely insane," I said.

              "Maybe it is," Sachiko said. "But that's what they believe."

              "Then what about the hybrids?" I said. "I heard someone was getting rid of the hybrids by the same method that's been used on the vampires."

              "That's also supposed to be you," Sachiko said. "The hybrids are half vampire, and they work for the Werdulac. So, of course, you hate them, too."

              "And what about you?" I asked. "What do you believe?"

              Sachiko smiled again. "I wondered when you'd get around to asking that. After all, I know I'm not the real ghost girl, so why shouldn't I believe it's you? In fact, why shouldn't I lure you away from your friends and turn you over to the queen myself? I'm sure I could get quite a reward for turning you in."

              I stared at Sachiko. "I don't believe you'd do that."

              "You're right. I wouldn't. I wouldn't turn you in even if I did believe you were the ghost girl—which I don't. I've actually seen what's happened. The queen and the others only go off of feelings—they don't worry about facts."

              "I don't entirely understand," I said. "If the queen and the rest of the court want to get rid of me, why did they send Anton to help me?"

              "I never said the rest of the court wants to get rid of you," Sachiko said. "Basically, the queen and the average citizen of Zamochit believes you are the ghost girl and wants you killed. But there are a few cooler heads, namely Innokenti and the king. Though it's mostly Innokenti who's responsible for your safety—he's the coolest head around. He knows what's at stake if you're killed. That's why everything surrounding you is so hush-hush. He has to keep you safe without ruffling any feathers."

              "So who is the real ghost girl?" I asked. "If it's not you and it's not me, who's actually been doing away with vampires?"

              "No one."

              "No one?" I said.

              "No one. The ghost girl isn't real." Sachiko turned around suddenly. "You know what? I just figured out how we can get you in. Come on. We'll worry about the other stuff later."

              Sachiko grabbed me by the hand and dragged me across the Wasteland. Then she stopped abruptly and released me.

              "I think this is about the right spot," she said. "Now, stand right here, and don't move. I'll be back."

              She took a few steps forward and vanished.

              I was suddenly all alone on the empty plain.

              I knew that Sachiko had stepped into Zamochit Village—and that I could follow her if I chose. But I also knew that her caution was justified—I was likely to be set upon quickly if I stepped into the vampire village. But all the same, as I stood on the flat, featureless plain of the Wasteland, I began to feel exposed and distinctly nervous. The ordinary noises of the night began to sound unnaturally loud, and every time I felt the slightest breeze, I was sure it was a vampire creeping up behind me.

              I waited in an agony, and Sachiko did not return.

              Time stretched on.

              I was just eyeing a suspicious shadow that seemed to be moving closer to me, when Sachiko reappeared carrying two bottles.

              "Sachiko, what is that over there?" I said.

              "Over where?" she asked.

              "That shadow. Over there."

              Sachiko glanced in the direction I indicated. "That's nothing."

              "What is it?" I said.

              "If you must know it's a raccoon—not everything in the dark is a vampire. Now hold still."

              Sachiko quickly uncorked the two bottles and upended them over my head.

              "What are you doing?" I said.

              "Disguising you," she replied. "Just on the other side of the barrier here there's a wine shop. The wine is sweet-smelling and strong—a bit like the scent of human blood—and it should be just enough to confuse any vampires we run across."

              "But isn't vampire alcohol made of—"

              I stopped. Last year, when I'd traveled through Zamochit Village with Odette, she'd told me that vampire spirits were distilled from blood. I looked at my wine-soaked arms in horror.

              "Isn't it made of blood?" Sachiko finished for me. "I may be a vampire, but I'm not a monster. Some vampire alcohol is made of blood, but not all of it is. In fact, most of it isn't. It's only the really expensive stuff that's made that way. And we won't be in the part of town where people can afford that anyway. I used the cheap, ordinary stuff. There's nothing on you but fermented grape juice."

              I brushed my wine-drenched hair away from my face. "That's a relief. Does regular wine have any effect on vampires?"

              "I suppose it does if you drink enough of it," Sachiko replied. "But I really don't know. It sells well enough, so I suppose people must be getting something out of it."

              She finished pouring the last of the wine out over me.

              "Now you're all set. You just smile and stumble a lot, and I'll tell anyone we meet that you've been on a bender. And try not to say anything at all. There are subtle differences between a human voice and a vampire voice for those who are paying attention. We don't want to give anything away."

              "What about you?" I said. "Do you need a disguise?"

              "I have one—just in case," Sachiko said, slipping on a plain black mask. "I just tell everyone that I've been disfigured and have to wear this. Since they can tell by my scent that I'm a vampire, they don't worry about it too much. After all, the ghost girl—you—is supposed to be a human. No vampires are suspected at all."

              "It's a good thing vampires have decided to trust one another," I said.

              Sachiko shifted her mask a little. "Actually, it's a good thing we're all so vain."

Chapter 21.

Sachiko took my hand, and the two of us stepped across the barrier. As we passed through, I felt the same strange tingling sensation I'd felt last year when I'd crossed the barrier for the first time. Other than that, I experienced no difficulty at all.

              The vast, empty space that was the Wasteland vanished, and the village of Zamochit sprang up in its place. Suddenly, Sachiko and I were standing in a dark alley between two buildings, and I had to assume that one of the two was the wine shop from which Sachiko had obtained her supplies.

              I could see dimly that the building to my right had a broken window, and I wondered if that was how Sachiko had gotten in.

              "Follow me," she whispered in my ear. "And remember what I said. Don't say a word. You can start speaking again once we get to the safe house."

              Sachiko kept a hold on my hand—ostensibly because I was inebriated—and she led me through the dark and winding streets of Zamochit. Houses and buildings popped up at odd angles, and the cobblestone streets we followed often seemed to come to an abrupt stop before picking up again a few yards later. The entire neighborhood had a makeshift, ramshackle feel to it—much like the part of town I'd originally stumbled into last year.

              There was no readily discernable source of light in Zamochit, but the entire place was suffused with a faint, silver light that was barely enough for me to see by, but was probably more than sufficient for the average vampire. As Sachiko and I hurried along, every once in a while I got a glimpse of Rusalka Castle between two buildings. The great stone fortress dominated Zamochit's skyline, and it was home to Zamochit's government—the king, the queen, and their chief minister, Innokenti. I had been to the castle once before, and the experience had been unnerving to say the least. As Sachiko and I crossed a cramped street that was lined on both sides by dingy houses, I caught another glimpse of Rusalka, and I paused to look at it.

              The towers of the castle were outlined by the barest hint of moonlight, and pale, silvery light emanated from the castle's many windows. The entire effect of the castle was graceful and somehow hypnotic, and I suddenly realized just how tired I was.

              I wanted nothing more at that moment than to lie down and go to sleep.

              There was a sudden, sharp tug on my hand, and a voice hissed in my ear.

              "Keep moving!"

              I looked up to see several pairs of eyes watching me. A number of shadowy figures were now standing on the street with us, and I was sure they hadn't been there a moment before. They had glided up so noiselessly that I'd never heard them coming—if they'd come from the houses, I hadn't heard so much as a door opening or closing.

              But no matter where they'd come from, I certainly had their attention now, and all those glittering eyes made me extremely uncomfortable.

              I hurried along after Sachiko and gripped her hand just a little more tightly.

              More eyes peered out at us as we moved through Zamochit's tortuous streets, but no one made a move to stop us, and eventually, Sachiko led me to a junk-filled alley where she came to a stop. In front of us was a stairwell that led down to the basement of a dingy house.

              She nodded her head toward the stairwell. "In there."

              I hurried down the stairwell to the door of the basement while Sachiko remained up above and kept watch. I tried the door, and finding it unlocked, I went inside.

              Sachiko hurried down the stairs after me and shut the door behind us.

              I found myself standing in total darkness. As I moved forward into the room, I banged my shin sharply against a solid object and cried out.

              "Careful," said a male voice.

              I froze. "Sachiko, is someone else in here with us?"

              "Yes," she said. "Sorry about the darkness. It's not actually dark in here for us." The tone of her voice changed as she addressed the room's other occupant. "Do we have a candle—or something—in here somewhere?"

              "We?" I said. "Who are we?"

              "I think so," the other voice said, answering Sachiko. "We have so many odds and ends in this place that I'd be surprised if we didn't have a candle stub or a flashlight in one of these boxes."

              I turned toward the sound of the male voice. The voice seemed familiar, but somehow I couldn't quite place it.

              I heard the sound of someone rummaging through a pile of objects, and then there was a sharp intake of breath.

              "I found it!" Sachiko cried. "I knew we had a candle around here somewhere."

              "The question is," the other voice said, "do we have any matches to light it with?"

              "We do have matches," Sachiko replied. "And I know exactly where they are. I wouldn't leave something dangerous like that just lying around. I'll be right back."

              There was a rushing sound then that sounded suspiciously like Sachiko leaving the room, and I turned once again in the direction of the male voice I had heard—I strained to hear if the owner of the voice was moving in the dark.

              "You don't have to be afraid," the voice said. "Believe it or not, we've met before."

              After a moment, Sachiko rushed back into the room, and I watched as a match flared to life in the darkness. The lit match hovered for a moment in one spot and then jumped up in the air and waved itself until it went out. But another light remained, and I could see a jar with a fat candle in it, sitting on a low table.

              "I'm sorry it's not much light," Sachiko said. "But it's the best we have at the moment. I didn't really think about it ahead of time."

              Sachiko sat down near the candle, and I was relieved to be able to see her once again.

              "Come on over and have a seat," she said.

              I waited a moment to give my eyes a chance to adjust to the gloom, and before long, I could just make out a cluttered room full of boxes and a haphazard assortment of tables and chairs—the room was shabby but comfortable. Sachiko was seated on a battered sofa, and on a rickety chair across the table from her sat a boy I recognized.

              I went closer and sat down next to Sachiko, and I continued to stare at the boy.

              "I told you I had a friend who could help us," Sachiko said.

              "David?" I said. "Is that really you?"

              I could see him smile in the candlelight.

              "It is I, David Hutchins," he said with mock solemnity.

              I peered at him closely. The horrible gray lines that had run across his face and neck seemed to have disappeared, and there was no sign of the spasms that had once racked his body—even his ashen pallor seemed to have improved. David now looked much as he had when he had gone to school with me. He, like Sachiko, looked like a normal, healthy high school student.

              "What are you doing here?" I asked.

              "Why do you sound so shocked?" David said. "You knew I was a vampire."

              "Yes," I said. "But you're new to all of this. Sebastian is the one who created you. You were living in Elspeth's Grove until a few weeks ago. How did you find out about Zamochit so quickly?"

              "Correction," David said. "I am
not
new to all of this. And Sebastian didn't create me. I just let him think that."

              "How is that possible?" I asked. "You went to school with me. You couldn't possibly have been a vampire then."

              "And yet I was," David said. "Surely you know that vampires can walk in the day—we're just weaker then. Sort of like when you guys stay up all night. I will admit it was an adjustment for me. It was like if you suddenly had to work the night shift at a new job."

              "So you were a vampire the whole time I knew you?" I asked.

              "Yes."

              "How long have you been one?" I asked.

              "A very long time," David replied. "I thought if anyone was going to guess it would be you—with your special knowledge and such. Didn't you wonder why there was no outcry when my body was found in the fountain? Why no grieving family members came forward to demand to know how I could have been so callously treated? That's because there was no family to be offended—there wasn't even any family at my funeral."

              I stared at him. "But you were going to high school."

              "Yes."

              "Why?"

              "I was an undercover agent." David smiled. "I always wanted to say that."

              "You?" I said. "Anton said there was an agent working in Elspeth's Grove, but he didn't know who it was. That was you?"

              "Yes," David said. "With emphasis on the word 'was.'"

              "What happened?" I asked.

              "Well, things were pretty good at first," David said. "After years of traveling, I'd decided to settle in Elspeth's Grove—I'd actually grown up there a long time ago—and after I'd been there for a few years, I got contacted by some representatives from the group up there at Rusalka Castle. I'd spent some time in Zamochit, too, so I knew about the setup here. They told me that there was something funny going on in the cave at the Old Grove, and they asked me if I could keep an eye on it for them—send them reports from time to time. Stuff like that. I said okay, and they gave me this."

              David reached into the collar of his shirt and pulled out a cloudy green stone on a black metal chain. "They said it would make me invisible to other vampires."

              "So that's why William couldn't sense you," I said. "I know about these necklaces. William found one in Elspeth's Grove, and he said he saw another one in the Vaults at Rusalka Castle. That's William Sursur," I said by way of explanation. "He's a—friend of mine."

              "I know who William is," David replied. "Everyone does. And this is the same necklace that he saw in the Vaults—I was summoned to the castle to receive it. They made a big deal about how important it was. There was even a sort of swearing-in ceremony in which I was made an official agent of the Russian court."

              David tucked the necklace back inside his shirt.

              "That was about a year ago," he said. "Since then I've been keeping an eye on Elspeth's Grove in general and on the cave in particular. I was already enrolled in the high school because I liked to study science, and I just continued going—I thought I might learn something from the gossip and the rumors in the halls. I kept my eyes and ears open, but I didn't really find out much. I was pretty sure something was going on at the cave, but whoever was running things was very, very careful. And then I had some luck."

              "Sebastian?" I said.

              "Sebastian," David replied. "Not too long ago, I began seeing him slipping into the cave and coming out with things—trinkets—objects that clearly didn't belong in a cave. I didn't know who he was at first—or that he was a vampire. And then one night I caught sight of the emerald necklace he was wearing, and I knew then what he was. So I started hanging around the cave, and I kept my own necklace in my pocket so he wouldn't know I was a vampire. And then I let him catch me—I let him think he'd turned me. And then I figured that he would let me in on what was going on at the cave. But it turned out that Sebastian didn't actually know anything—he was just a scavenger who'd been lucky enough to stumble on some treasure. What he was really hoping for was to catch you and turn you in for a really big reward from the Werdulac. He tried to send me after you, and as I told you back at the school, I refused. I couldn't go after you. You were my friend. Besides, I'm not that keen on human blood—I'm kind of a vegetarian."

              "And that's when Sebastian stabbed you with that silver stake," I said. "And then pushed you in the fountain."

              "Exactly," David said.

              "Why didn't you tell me the whole story back in Elspeth's Grove?" I asked. "Why didn't you tell me about Sebastian and the necklace?"

              "I kind of couldn't," David said. "I was in really bad shape. There's some kind of poison in the silver stake, and it ran through my whole body. I was pretty sure it was going to finish me off. But I wanted to warn you before that happened. I didn't want Sebastian to get to you."

              "You did look pretty bad," I said. "I was afraid the whole time that you were going to collapse right in front of me. How did you survive it?"

              "Well, I contacted my superiors at Rusalka Castle," David said. "And they ignored me. As far as they were concerned, the poison that raged through my body was my own problem. I could perish or not, as I chose. That's when my old friend Sachiko found me. She brought me here to Zamochit to a healer she knew, and the healer managed to stop the poison. Sachiko saved my life."